UNIT 2- Buildings and Structures

Provocation:

A picture book -The wonderful; towers of watts by Patricia Zelver was read to the class and thought provoking questions were asked to help understand the theme of the Unit as well as concepts.






Pre- assessment- Students choose their group members and formed groups to create a structure that will be tall and hold at least one writing book for 30 seconds ,once done they can experiment using many books and explain the process of testing.Later they had to complete a reflection.




Tuning in :Connect ,Extend,Challenge:








Dear parents,                                                                                                       Setember 30,2015

Greetings from the Aga Khan Academy, Hyderabad!

Grade 5 students are going to learn about “Buildings and Structures” in the second unit f inquiry.The central idea (the big understanding) for the unit is:‘ The design of buildings and structures is dependent upon the environmental factors and human ingenuity’. In this unit, we will try to understand how humans use technology nand scientific principles to design and construct different forms of buildings based on various factors. The unit falls under the transdisciplinary theme ‘How the world works’. We will focus on the concepts of Form and Prespective (What are buildings like? What kinds of buildings exist?), Causation (What properties do we look for while choosing construction materials? What are the steps involved in construction?)and responsibility (What factors influence the design and construction of a building? What kind of materials are to be used to aan extent for constructing eco -frendly and strong structures)
The first line of inquiry is ‘Different forms of buildings and structures’ and the concept is form and prespective. We will find out about the different types of structures including mud huts, brick buildings, glass buildings, sky scrapers, dams, tunnels, bridges, etc. We will read books and research on the internet to get information regarding this. The students will also understand the purpose of buildings like schools, offices, hospitals, fire stations, police stations, etc. They will compare their structure using venn diagrams.
The second line of inquiry is ‘Factors that influence the design and construction of a building’,with the focus on concept of causation. This will include in-depth inquiry into a range of factors like properties and availability of materials, effects of construction on the environment, aesthetics, culture, etc. Students will use manipulatives to understand the basic design of a building. They will conduct experiments to find out the properties of different materials. The students will watch videos on “green” buildings to develop appreciation for them. The students will do a case study on their own school building and will derive information by visiting the campus site and by inviting the engineers as guest speakers. We will use graphic organizers like fish bone and cause-and-effect charts.
The third line of inquiry conceptual focus is responsibility and it is ‘The use of scientific principles in construction’. The students will use the Google Sketch-up tool to create mock designs of buildings. They will read about the latest machinery used in construction. There will be a field trip to a construction site for a first-hand experience. An architect will be invited as a guest speaker. We will also look into the ‘Aga Khan Award for Architecture’.
In this unit, there will be a lot of math integration, especially in the shapes and measurements strands. We will learn about the use of different shapes in the design of a building focus on symmetry,area, perimeter and shapes. Students will learn to make blueprints of an existing building and to create blueprints on their own. They will derive formulae to measure the areas and perimeters of rectangular spaces. They will learn to use different units for measuring length. They will observe the patterns and symmetries in building designs. In language, we will focus on the genres of instruction, chronology and explanation.
Feel free to communicate with us regarding this through student diaries, emails and blogs. Also let us know if you are interested in sharing your experiences about the construction of your own house.

Warm regards,
Team Grade 5




Resources:
Building Big from PBS
This site includes great facts and challenges spanning bridges, domes, skyscrapers, dams, and tunnels.
Another Related Website from PBS:
2) Great Projects: The Building of America http://www.pbs.org/greatprojects/
Related Website:
3) Building Big from Idaho PTV http://www.idahoptv.org/buildingbig/index.html
  
This site is designed to help people explore and learn about the interesting and varied careers in the construction industry.
Related Website:
2) Carpentry and Construction Career Guide from Vocational Information Center
3) Civil & Structural Engineering Technology Online from British Columbia Institute of Technology http://www.civil.bcit.ca/edufacts/edufacts.html

Kikki's Workshop from Komatsu Ltd.
Check out the Great Picture Book of Construction Equipment(http://www.kenkenkikki.jp/zukan/e_index.html), meet Kikki's friends, or enter their coloring picture grand prix.
Related Websites:
2) Building Stuff from Texas Department of Transportationhttp://www.dot.state.tx.us/kidsonly/BuildStuff/Buildstuff.htm
4) Construction Equipment from Reed Business Informationhttp://www.constructionequipment.com/
5) Everything About Construction Equipment from Komatsu Ltd.http://www.kenkenkikki.jp/special/e_index.html
6) Link-Belt Construction Equipment http://www.linkbelt.com/
7) Tools of the Master Builder Series from About.comhttp://construction.about.com/library/weekly/blmastol.htm
8) Volvo Construction Equipment http://www.volvo.com/constructionequipment

New York Underground from National Geographic
New Yorkers go about unaware of what is happening just beneath their feet: Power pulses, information flies, and steam flows. The city's infrastructure starts just below street level, but it doesn't stop there.
Related Websites:
2) Down the Drain: Chicago's Sewers from Chicago Public Library
3) What Is Infrastructure? by D.F. Schulz http://iti.acns.nwu.edu/def_infr.html

You may also want to visit these related websites: (1) Architecture(http://42explore.com/arch.htm), (2) Bridge Building (http://42explore.com/bridge.htm), (3) Castles (http://42explore.com/castle.htm), (4) Railroads (http://42explore.com/railroad.htm), and (5) Shelters (http://42explore.com/sheltr.htm), - - all from eduScapes 42eXplore.



Websites By Kids For Kids
Building the Windy City (Platinum Award, 2000 ThinkQuest Junior Project)
Learn all about the buildings that make Chicago a unique center of architecture.

Reaching New Heights (2000 ThinkQuest Internet Challenge)
This webproject looks at the five tallest buildings in the world (as of August 2000), the Petronas Towers, the Sears Tower, the World Trade Towers, the Jin Mao Building, and Sky Central Plaza.

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (2001 ThinkQuest Internet Challenge)
Learn about the buildings that once were considered to be true wonders. Find out what has happened to them over time and what is left of them.



Online Journals for Building & Construction

Structures of the World
Arch History & Architectural Information from National Park Service
Learn about the construction of the Gateway Arch (St. Louis, Missouri), the materials and techniques used to build it, and even take a look at the mathematical equation used to create the catenary curve shape of the Arch.

In the first two decades of the 20th Century, an unprecedented development of massive industrial structures changed the face of Detroit and heralded a second industrial revolution. Today all of those structures are in ruins, abandoned, decayed or destroyed.

Geoguide—Dams! from National Geographic
Get your feet wet investigating dams! Contemplate why—and How—people build dams, and explore the good and bad impacts a dam may have on a community. And find questions to probe further.
Related Websites:
2) United States Society on Dams (USSD) http://www2.privatei.com/%7Euscold/

This online databaseDOCUMENTShttp://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png a thousand buildings and hundreds of leading architects, with 3D models, photographic images and architectural drawings, commentaries, bibliographies, web links, and more, for famous designers and structures of all kinds.

Learn about some ancient and historical engineering and construction feats.

Learn how the greatest engineering feats in American history were accomplished, including the electrification of America, building the Hoover Dam, constructing the George Washington Bridge in NY, and Boston's Big Dig.

Here is a a gallery of the world's greatest structures!

Hoover Dam from PBS's American Experience
Follow a construction timeline, get dam facts, and learn about the people and events throughout the dam's history.
Related Website:
2) Hoover Dam: Lonely Lands Made Fruitfulhttp://xroads.virginia.edu/~MA98/haven/hoover/front2.html

Construction of the Empire State Building began in March of 1930 on the site of the old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel at 350 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street. It was completed 14 months later in May, 1931. Check out photos of the construction of this building and find lots of facts about it.
Related Website:
This site relates the history of the cathedral which was constructed between the years 1163 and 1285.
Related Website:

Here you find photos and facts on this Chicago building.
Related Website:
2) 1973 Sears Tower from Chicago Public Libraryhttp://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/timeline/searstower.html

The list comprised the seven most impressive monuments of the Ancient World, some of which barely survived to the Middle Ages.

This is a database of the skyscrapers and tall structures of the world.
Other Related Websites:
2)Daniel's Manhattan Architecture http://users.commkey.net/daniel/arcindex.htm
4) History of Elevators and Skyscrapershttp://www.ic.sunysb.edu/Stu/jccarter/est572/history.htm
5) How Skyscrapers Work (Webpage 1 of 8) by T. Harris from How Stuff Works
6) Skyscraper Museum of New York, NY http://www.skyscraper.org/

The construction of a tower is one of mankind's oldest dreams. For earlier civilizations, a tower made it possible to see the approaching enemy and protect oneself. Modern ingenuity and technology now make it possible to reach incredible height.

World Trade Center (Webpage 1 of 10) by T. Harris from HowStuffWorks
This website remembers the Twin Towers for everything they were - - a remarkable technological achievement, a representation of an ideal, and ultimately, a staggering reminder of our own vulnerability.

More Websites on Building & Construction
AEC Info (Architectural Engineering Construction)
In the areas of architecture, engineering, construction, and home building, this site offers a lot: updates on governmental regulation, on-line specs, interactive discussion, a building product library and links to other sites.

This site is designed for use by anyone involved with residential construction.
Related Websites:
2) Before the Architect http://www.beforethearchitect.com/
3) Build Your House from About.com http://architecture.about.com/cs/buildyourhouse/
4) How House Construction Works (Webpage 1 of 18) by M. Brain from HowStuffWorks

Site dedicated to building manufacturers, building dealers, building designers and remodelers, building design software and building specialists, for the building industry.
Related Websites:
2) Builder's Network http://www.abuildnet.com/
3) Building Industry and Construction Web Directories http://www.building.com/
4) Building Online http://www.buildingonline.com/
5) Housing Zone http://www.housingzone.com/

CPWR is the research arm of the Building and Construction Trades Dept., AFL-CIO. Focusing on construction worker safety, they offer here hazard alerts, a publications list, newsletter, and related links.




Site contains condensed guides to the most commonly cited code violations encountered by building inspectors.
Related Websites:
2) Building Energy Codes from U.S. Department of Energy http://www.energycodes.gov/
3) New York City Department of Buildings http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/dob/home.html
4) When is a Permit Required? from City of Alexandria, VAhttp://ci.alexandria.va.us/city/codeenforcement/1_2_2_1.html

Construction Education by B.L. Sims
This comprehensive website provides information and resources for engineering, architecture, interior design, construction, building inspection and land surveying industries.

Construction Glossary from Home Building Manual
This indexed list of defined terms is focused on home construction.

Construction Industry from About.com
This comprehensive site leads to information and resources for residential and commercial building, codes and authorities, jobs and careers, and much, much more.

Here you can access construction-related news stories, magazine and web articles from (1)The Architects' Journal, (2) Construction News, and (3) New Civil Engineer, plus a database of current construction products, and more.

Construction Statistics from U.S. Census Bureau
This site provides monthly statistics on housing construction. You can also get answers here to frequently asked questions about construction statistics.

Construction WebLinks from Thelen Reid & Priest LLP
This comprehensive web portal represents all facets of the construction industry.

Click on a state to learn of its license requirements or learn how to find out if a contractor is licensed in that state.

Building is fun, but it's exciting to watch a structure blown down!

This organization studies and reports on all aspects of the planning, design, and construction of tall buildings. They are also concerned with the role and impact of tall buildings on the urban environment.

Design A Room from Armstrong
Once you have your home picked out, you can try different floor coverings in various rooms with this website. Choose the type of flooring, a room in the house, the style of the room, and the type of flooring that you think you would like. Presto! Your room has the floor covering you chose!
  
High Performance Buildings from U.S. Department of Energy
This website promotes the development of commercial buildings that are energy efficient, healthy and comfortable places to live, work, and play.
  
Search and view house plans, get information about building codes, and more.
Related Websites:
2) Archway Home Plans http://www.archwaypress.com/
3) Cool House Plans http://www.coolhouseplans.com/
4) Design Basics http://www.designbasics.com/


6) Homeplanfinder http://www.homeplanfinder.com/
7) Homes for Today http://www.homes4today.com/

Home Improvement Encyclopedia from Better Homes and Gardening
This is a step-by-step remodeling and repair guide.
Related Websites:
2) Do It Yourself http://doityourself.com/
3) Home Repair Tips from the Recycle Guyshttp://www.p2pays.org/recycleguys/main/repair.htm

This organization lists commercial, residential and government construction projects and notifies a large base of quality contractors nationwide. Much of the site is restricted to members; however, you can visit the message boards and read a few online articles.

Structural Engineering (World-Wide Web Virtual Library)
This links-site provides an information resource for structural engineering related topics.
Related Website:
2) World Wide Web Virtual Library for Civil Engineeering

This is the official website for the television program.

World of Materials from P.P. Pizzo, San Jose State University
Very few people know of the field called Materials Engineering. It all begins with some component of the Earth, organic or inorganic, which can be reduced to create materials useful to civilization. Learn what its all about.
Related Websites:
2) Arcat (Architectural Community Information) http://www.arcat.com/
3) Building Materials Trader http://www.buildingmaterialstrader.com/
4) Canadian Wood Council http://www.cwc.ca/
5) Links from Building Materials and Wood Technology, University of Massachusetts Amherst
6) First Source from Reed Construction Datahttp://www.firstsourceonl.com/passthrough.asp

Websites For Teachers
Constructing a Building (Preschool: Ages 3-5) from Scholastic
Children will develop social, language, math, creative-thinking, and problem-solving skills as they work together to plan and design a building using large appliance boxes.

Construction and Trade Lesson Plans from Vocational Information Center
Here you find a large collection of categorized lesson plans.

Construction Lesson Plan (Grade 4) by T. Lebzelter
Using the book “Stuart Little” students will learn how to build a dwelling, for Stuart, scaled down to his mouse size.

Free Standing Structure (Grades 4-8) by L. Gonzales from ASKEric
This activity is designed to show students that cost, time, planning, modeling, designs, teamwork, and application are important in learning about "real world" construction projects.

Mindstorms for Schools from LEGO Educational Division
The approach to learning is is based on a simple learning process - - the 4Cs: Connect, Construct, Contemplate, Continue.

Here is a source for purchasing paper model kits of famous buildings and structures.

Reaching New Heights (Grades 6-8) from DiscoverySchool
Students investigate the complexity of designing and creating large structures such as skyscrapers.

What's Down Below The Street? City Infrastructure from The Rosenbach Museum & Library
This lesson helps students understand the need for city infrastructure and the importance of good systems for a healthy neighborhood or city. It also focuses on the history of the city and its different uses of land over time.



%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%



No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.